Braiding machine



` April 14, 1931.

S. B. BLAISDELL BRAIDING MACHINE Filed NOV. 5, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet l April 14, 1931. s. B. BLAISDELL 1,801,134

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I April '14, 1931- s. B. BLAISDELI. 1,801,134

BRAIDING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 5. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 14, 1931- s. B. BLAISDELL. 1,801,134

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 1'4, 1931.

S. B. BLAISDELL BRAIDING MACHINE 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 y ls /gffarrzeqyw www# Zzmzav April 14, 1931- s. B. BLAISDELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE 5, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov.

Patented pr. 14, 193i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a l SIDNEY D. BLAISDELL, or WYNCOTE, PENNSYLVANIA, As'sIGNoE 'ro FIDELITY MA- f oIIINE COMPANY, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A coEron-ATION or DELAWARE flu BRAIDING MACHINE Application led November 5, 1929. Serial No. 405,038.

This invention relates to braiding machines, and particularly to those employing a large number of individual threads, for example, machines having approximately thirty-six ends. i

Prior to my invention it has been the practice, in. order to use bobbins of such a size that it would not be necessary to stop the machine too frequently to replenish the bobbins, to make the bobbin-supporting platform of a tremendously large diameter, it being understood by those familiar with the art that the diameter of the bobbins is governed by the amount of clearance existing between any two of the bobbin carriers as they pass in opposite directions around undulated and-intertwiningr paths defined by guiding grooves or slots formed in the bobbin-supporting platform; and that to increase this clearance to permit of the use of larger bobbins and in order to usethe large number of bobbins the paths are necessarily expanded, which necessitates the use of the extremely large bobbin-supporting platform above noted.,

It is also understood by those familiar with the` art that the maximum lineal speed at which the vcarriers can be safely operated to avoid ballooning and tangling of the threads has been definitely established.

Machines of this type are subject to many disadvantages, which, collectively, materially decrease the daily production of the large machine as compared with a` smaller machine employing-half the number of threads, or less. For example, the greater lengthl of the paths traveled by the carriers movingat` maximum lineal speed requires a greater length of time for each carrier to complete one full circuit around the platform; the large diameter of the bobbin-supporting platform makes it more diflicult and requires more timefor the operator to tie up broken ends and to perform other necessary duties at' and near the center of the machine; the large supporting platform also requires more floor space to accommodate the machine; and further, these machines, enlarged to the greatest possible extent and using bobbins of the greatest possible diameter under the circumstances, must be stopped on the average of three times during a normal working day to replenish the bobbins on the carriers and each of these bobbin changing stoppages entails a loss of approximately thirty minutes of the otherwise available producing time of the machine.

The principal object of my invention is to increase the production of braiding machines employing a large number of ends. This object I accomplish primarily by dividing the number of bobbins into two separate series and by providing a separate platform for each series, the platforms being superposed above each other and so arranged that the threads of the lower series pass through the platform supporting the upper series, the two series of threads being manipulated with respect to each other to effect the braiding operation in the same general manner as in the large machine.

The use of two platforms reduces the diameters thereof so that the paths traveled b the carriers are shortened in length an therefore, require less time for the carriers to travel through a complete circuit around the platform at the maximum speed, which materially increases the daily production of the machine.

The use of two platforms reduces their diameters to such an extent that the operator can more readily perform the necessary duties at and near the center of the machine, which adds to the increased production.

The use of two platforms of reduceddiameters placed one above the other materially reduces the fioor space required to accommodate the machine. i

The use of two platforms also permits the use of bobbins of such an increased size, `as

compared to those used in the large single deck machine, that the machine need `.be stopped but once in a normal working day to replenish the bobbins, thus adding practically one full hour to the actual producing day of each machine.

A machine made in accordance with the principles of my invention in practice has proven that it requires so little attention from the operator that a single operator can very readily'tendthree or more machines, as

' chandise wher-ein the braiding is effected around a suitable core, such as a rubber hose or-'cablewould provide.

The construction and operationof my improved machine will vbe fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accomline 6 6, Fig. 1 ;I

panying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a 'side elevation;

F ig..2 isa sectional elevation taken on the line 2%-2, Fig. 1; f f

' Fig.r3 is asectional the line 3-3, Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 isa sectional planl view takenl on plan view taken on Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken on the line'5-5, Fig. 1; f

Fig. 6 is `a sectional plan view taken on the Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the bobbin carriers, removed from the machine; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the in-- dependent thread guides employed in my improved machine. f M

. As. shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a mainbase plate or lower deck 1, which is supported at a suitable distance above the floor by suitable legs 2, 2. An aperture 3 is provided at the centerof the base plate 1, and a vertically extending hollow column 4 passes through this, opening and .issecured to the underside ofthe base plate 1 by means of screws or bolts 5, which pass through a circular ilange lformed integral with the lowerendof the hollow column 4 which forms a partof the lowerdeck 1*, as Iillustrated in Fig. 2.

.The upper end or" the hollow column 4 is Vprovided with a circular .shoulder 7L onwhich rests the lower'end of a hub 3 formed integrally'with a deckplate 9 which constitutes the central section of an upper deck 10, the section 9 thereof being heldagainst rotary movement relative to .the column 4 by means of'suitahle keys 11, 11. 1n addition-to the central section 9, the upper deck 10'comprises an outer section12 which is lsupported from the lower y deck 1 by means of vertically extending posts Between the outer edge of the .central section 9 and the linneredge of the outer'scction 12 of the upper deck 10 is formed an undulated slot 14, for pu-rposes'hereinafter set forth. f

Spaced above the upper deck 10 is a bobbin carrier supporting platform 15, which coinprises an outer section 16, an inner section 17 anda plurality ofv intermediate sections 18,

the adjacent edges of said-sections 'combining and bobbincarriers 25, oneof which is shown in detail in Fig. 7.

Each of the thread guiding elements 25 comprises a foot 26 which is adapted to rest on the upper surface of the platform 15. VDepending'from the foot 26 is an elongated hn 27 whichextends through the slot 19,A the opposite'ends of said lin being beveled 'as illustrated in Fig. 4. At the lower end of the fin 27 and spaced from the foot 26 a'distance sub-` stantially equal to the thickness of the platform 15 is a guide-plate 28, which bears against vthe underside of the saidvplatforin andthereby operatively maintains thefbobbin carrier in anoperating position on vand relative to the stationary platform 15. Depending from the underside of the guide plate 28 is a stud 29, for purposes hereinafter described. f l

Formed integrally with and projecting vertically from the foot 26 lin the present instance is the thread guide in the'for'mof a post 30 iavingopenings31 and 32 for a threadai' as vone-end of a vpawl element 36 which is pivotally mounted at its center37 tothe spindle 34, the core 'element ,33 being supported on the spindle 34 by means of a collar l38 formed integral with or secured to lthe. said spindle. A. spring 39 is provided between the collar 33 and one end of the pawl element 36 and tends to maintain the said end ofthe pawl in engagement with the toothed edge of the flange 35 at all times. A

Attached at 40 to the opposite end of the pawl element 36 is one end of a link 41, the opposite end -of which is 'in the form of a loop 42 passing around and'slidably carried by the thread guide post 30 at a point inter` mediate the openingsv 31 and A32v thereinf Below the loop 42 on the post 30 is slidably mounted a tension weight 43, under-.the lower edge of whichtheqthread passes, as it is drawn from the bobbin B, through the opening 31-and the opening'32 to the braid. ing point ofthe machine, and when `the.

thread becomes taut the tension weight43 is raisedland engages the loop 42 which, through ,the link 41, turns the pawl 36 on its pivot 37 against the' action ofthe spring 39ffa`nd thereby releases thebobbin B, permitting it to rotate on thespindle 34 and thereby pay out the thread w. `Vhen suiiicient of the said thread :c isdrawn from the bobbin by theweight 43 the' said weight will drop to a position permitting the pawl36 to again engage'the toothed flange 35 of the bobbin core 33, and thereby arrest the bobbin B. Y A

The undulated slot 2O forms a similar guideway for a series of independent thread guiding elements 45, one of which is shown in detail in F ig. 8. Each of the thread guiding` elements-45 comprises a' foot 46 havin a ldepending and beveled-ended iin `47 at the lower end` of which is formed a guide plate 48.which maintains the thread guide in operative position on the platform 15. Depending from the plate128 is a hollow stud 49.

Extending vertically from the upper side ofthe foot 46 is a thread guide tube 50, the bore 52 of which isin vertical alignment with the'bore 51 ofthe hollow stud 49, the said tube being suitably secured in a boss 53formed on the upper side of the foot 46.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper ends of the thread guiding posts 30 and the upper ends of the thread guiding tubes .50, of the thread guiding elements 25 :and 45 respectively, are in substantially the same horizontal plane spacedabove the stationaryv platform 15;

' VRotatably mounted lower'deck 1 which is formed 6 of the said central column 4,

As shown in Fig. 4, the undulated slots 19 and 20AcrossV each other `at points intermediate the extreme outerand inner curves thereof, it beingunderstood that the series of thread guiding elements25 will travel in the slot or guideway 19 in the direction of the arrow-a, while the thread'guiding elements 45 will'travel in the undulated slot orfguideway 20, and in the direction of the arrow b, opposite to the direction of travel of the thread guiding elements 25, as shown in Fiv. 4.

.'he undulated slot 14 Vin the upper deck 10 coincides vertically with the undulated slotV 20 formedin the platform15, which is located above the said upper ldeck 10; and the hollow studs 49 of the thread guiding elements 45 entend through the said slot 14 in the upper deck 10 to a point below the lower surface of the upper deck 10, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

on the central column 4 and verticallysupported by that part of the by the flange is `a rotary movable platform 55, which is adapted to support a series of bobbin carriers 65. These bobbin vcarriers 65 are ofthesame construction as the bobbin carriers of the thread guid- Vplete circle on the lower deck 1 ing elements'25, withV the exception that they are not provided with the depending fins 27, the guide plates 28, or the studs 29, and in place of being separately movable over their supporting platform the bobbin carriers 65 are rigidly secured in spaced relation to each other on the rotatable supporting platform 55, `by means of screws 57 which pass through the foot plates 56 of the bobbin carriers 65, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 6.

This rotary platform is adapted to move and carry the bobbin carriers in the same general direction as the series of independent thread guidinqr elements 45, as indicated by t-he arrowT c in Fig. 6.

The annular cavity formed in the lower deck 1 between the inner edge of the opening 3 and the outer surface of the column 4, forms an oil well in the said lower deck in which the hub of the rotary platform 55 operates at all times and is thereby kept well lubricated.

` The number of bobbin carriers 65 carried i by the rotary platform 55 is the same as the number of independent thread guiding elements 45 mounted on the rigid supporting platform 15; and each of the said bobbin carriers 65 is adapted to supply a thread w1 from its bobbin B1 to the corresponding independent thread guiding element 45, which is located substantially in a direct line above the respective bobbin carrier 65. v

Each of these bobbin carriers 65 is provided with a tension weight 43a mounted on the thread guiding post 30a which is provided with an upper thread eye 32a the same as the posts 3() of the thread guiding elements 25 illustrated in Fig. 7, the bobbin carriers 65 being provided with a bobbin-controlling pawl 36a under control of the said tension weight 43a.

While any given one of the independent thread guiding elements 45 is making a complete circuit of its guideway or undulated slot 20 on the upper deck 10, the corresponding bobbin carrier 65 is also making one comin accordance therewith, so that the said bobbin carrier 65 will at all times be in position to feed the thread w1 directly to the bore 51 of the hollow stud 49 of its corresponding thread guiding element 45.

The bobbin carrying thread guiding element-s 25 and the independent thread guiding elements 45 mounted on the rigid supporting platform 15 are moved over the surface of the said' platform 15 of the upper deck 10 by means ofa train of intermershing gears 7 0 which are provided with a plurality of pairs of spaced horns 71. The respective pairs of horns 71 are adapted to engage the studs 29 and 49 of the thread guiding elements 25 and 45 respectively, and in the same gen-eral manner as is common to ordinary braiding machines. i i .Y

llf)

. As shown in Fig. 5, the periphery of 'each' of the -gears 70 is notched or cut. out as indi cated atV 7 2, said notch extending radially in'-,

ward from the periphery of the gear toward the center thereof to accommodate the `hollow studs 49 of the thread guiding elements 45 in' their passage from the stationary platform to the lower side of the upper deck As shown inlFig 5, these notches 7 2 are provided between the horns 71 of two pairsV which .are disposeddiametrically opposite to eachother on the gears 70, no notches being provided'between the horns of the other diametrically opposed pairs of horns disposed the first said pair at 90O with respect to Y the reason that the havingl the notches for y studs 29 of the thread guiding elements 25 do studs of the respective thread not extend to a point below the upper surface of the said gear 70, on which the said horns are formed.

As these gears are rotated the horns 71 thereon will engage the 'said studs 29 and 49 and the-reby convey the respective thread Y guiding elements through the curved portions vof the undulations of the guideways 19 and 20 with which each of these gears is axially aligned, the crossing ofthe said undu ner common tobraiding machine operation.

Y The train of gears 0is driven through a pair of intermediate'pinions 73, 73 meshing with one `of the said gears 70 and with a gear 74 which isV secured'to a vertical shaft 75.'H rlhe gears 70 are rotatably mounted on the posts '22 which support the intermediate sections 18 of the stationary .platform 15, from and above the upper deck 10.

The lower end of the. shaft 75 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 76 formed on a bracket 77 which is rigidly secured to the lower deck 1 by meansfof bolts 78, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1f, and the upper end of the said shaft 75 is mounted in a bearing 79 formed on the outer end of an'arm 80, the opposite end of' which :is provided with a hub 81 rigidly secured to a vertically extending post 82, which is secured at its lower end to the outer section 12'of the upper deck 10. The shaft 75 is alsoV supported, adjacenttlie gear 74, in a bearing 84 formed integral with and projecting from the 'outer section 12 of the upper deck2. t

rlhe peripheral edge of the rotary platform 55 is provided with gearteeth 85 adapted to mesh with the teeth of a gear 86 which is secured to the shaft 75 adjacent the lower deck 1. Y

yLoosely mounted on the shaft 75, below the-gear 86, is a beveled gear .87 which meshes withl a beveled gear 88 secured to one end of a shaft 89 rotatably mounted .in :a bearing 90 formed integral with the bracket 77, a suitabledrive pulley 91 being secured to the oppositeend of the shaft 89, by'. means of whichV power is applied to the machine from any suitable source. Q

The. underside of the beveledV gear .8T is provided with clutch teeth 9 2 which yare adapted to be engaged by similar .teethv 93 formed on the upper end of a clutch sleeve 94, which is splined to the shaft 75'intermediate the beveled gear 87 and the gearing? 6. rlhe clutch sleeve 94 is adapted to be-controlled by a lever 95-fulcrumed at 96 in the bracket 77. f. t'

Pivotally connected at 98 to the clutch lever 9`5is a latch 99 whichprojects vertically above the movable platform 55 and is there provided with Vafshoulder 100 which is adapted to rest on the upper side of a hori- Zontally disposed Vlatch lever v`101. Y.This lever 101 is secured to a vertically disposed shaft 102 rotatably mounted: at its opposite ends in the lower deck 1 and the iupperdeck 10 respectively. Above the stationary platform 15,the shaft 102l isprovided Ywith-'a second arm 101a corresponding-to the above mentioned armor lever 101..V f t 1f any ofthe threads m or m1 should break during the operation of the machina, the tension weights 43 or 43a, as the case may be, which iscontrolled by the broken thread, will immediately drop to a point adjacent the foot 26 or 46 and as the machine continues to op erate the tension weight lying in this vlower position will strike one or the other of these levers 101 and 10P, depending upon whether the broken thread is `coming from a bobbin on the upper or the lower deck, causing the shaft 102 to be rotated and the latch lever 101 moved from under the 'shoulder 100 Vof the latch 99,'which will permit the said latch 99 and the clutch lever 95 to drop, thereby per mittingthe clutch sleeve .94 to slide axially on the shaft 75, disconnecting theteeth. 93 of the saidsleeve from theteeth 92 zof the bev-.

eled gear 87 and thereby stopping the ma'- chine.

i As shown in Fig. 2, a core elementZ', such as arubber hose, electric cable, or the like,

passes up through the hollow column 4 and. through .the central opening 23 in the upper inn lll)

stationary:bobbin-supporting platform 15,

througha suitable mandrel 105 a take-up wheel 106lr Y Y v The'take-up wheel 106 is rotatably mount ed on a horizontally disposed shaftv 107 mounted in brackets 108 which in turn lare mounted on the 'uppergendsf of. :the post 82 and a corresponding post 82aV which, like and around the post 82, is secured to and projects vern tically from the upper deck 10.- f .Y

Secured to `the take-up wheel 106 is. a gear wheel 109 which meshes with a gear; 110 secured to ,one end of ahorizontallydisposed CII A 117 secured to the Y ing of suiiicient 35" bobbins of the thread guide l more efficiently.

tionately .less

shaft 111, one end of which is rotatably mountedv in the arm 80 and the opposite end of Which is rotatablymounted at a suitable bearing 112.

Adjacent the arm 80, the shaft 111 is provided :with a gear 113 Which meshes With a `gear 114- secured to one endof a short shaft 115, on the opposite end of which is secured a Worm Wheel 116, which meshes with a Worm vertical shaft 75. The shaft 115 is rotatably mounted in .a bearing formed in the lower end of an arm 118 depending from the arm 80. The bearing 112 and the mandrel 105 are secured to a horizontally disposed arm 120 which is secured to a horizontally disposed rod 121 carried in brackets 122 .and 122a secured to the posts 82 and 8,2El respectively. The arm`120 is steadied by a third post 123 secured to and projecting vertically from the upper deck 10.

\ The mandrel 105 Vin the present instance consists merely of a `platehaving an opendiameter to permit the core element Z to pass freely therethrough, and acts .as a means for supporting the core element at or immediately adjacent the braidingpoint in the machine. ,Upon referring to Fig. 3, it will be obvious thatthe bobbins B carried by the group of `threadguiding elements may be of the `proportion indicated at B2 permitting a=clearance indicated .at VC `vvhich need be only of a suiicient Width to permit the pas- Vsage between the peripheries of the adjacent tube of one of the independent thread guiding elements 45., g

The diameter of a full bobbin, as indicated at B2, is materially greater than the maximum sized' bobbins` capable of being used in the large type machines described in the preamble of the specification, and due to the fact that only one-half of the totall number of bobbins working in the machine at one time are 1ocatedonany single one of the supporting platformsthe path followed by these bobbins canbe materially contracted toward the center of the machine, thus producing a machine which requires'considerably less Hoor space than do machines of the type above noted, and the corresponding decrease in the overall dimensions of the machine will permit'the operator to perform his duties quicker and A machine constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention as above de-l scribed is capable of increasing the production of a single machine approximately fifty per cent and still maintain themaximum safe lineal speed of the thread guiding elementsyfor the reason that the distance traveled in making a complete circuit of one of the undulated guideways 19 or 20 is proporthan the distance around one of the noted.

In my improved machine the radius of each of the curves of the undulated guideways is less than in the machines of the prior art, and due to the fact that but one set of bobbins is located on each deck of the machine the size of the bobbins is increased about forty per cent. For example, the bobbins of large machines of the prior art as above described use bobbins substantially three inches in diameter and about six inches long, Whereas, in a machine made in accordance with the principles of my invention I may use a bobbin about four inches in diameter and about eight inches long, Which increases the volume of thread about three times that of the smaller size bobbin.

While the details of construction of a machine made in accordance with the principles of my invention are subject to considerable modification, Within the scope of the invention, the fundamental principles involved, that is, dividing the total number of bobbin carriers into separate groups and locating each group in a. position remotely situated with respect to another group, with all the groups of bobbin carriers respectively supplying threads to different groups of thread guiding elements located and operating in a single plane common to all, is an innovation in the `braiding art, and it is this principle and' the general construction of the machine on which I Wish to secure Letters Patent.

While I have described my invention as being especially adapted for machines using a larger number of ends, for example, thirtysix, it will be obvious that the machine is equally adaptable for use with any desired number of ends Without departing from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

1; A braiding machine comprising a pair of superposed decks; a platform spaced above and rigidly secured to the upper deck of the machine, saidplatform having a pair of undulated and intertwining slots formed therein; a group of bobbin carriers respectively provided with thread guiding elements, mounted on the stationary platform and movable in one direction along one of said slots therein; a group of independent thread guides mounted on the said stationary platform in alternate relation to the said bobbin carriers and movable in the other of said slots in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said bobbin carriers; a platform rotatably mounted on the lower deck of the machine and movable in the same general direction as the said group of independent thread guides; a plurality of bobbin carriers rigidly mounted on said rotary platform and adapted to supply thread to the said independent thread guides respectively; a tension Weight slidably mounted for vertical movement on tli y said tension weights being each bobbin carrier on both. the upperl and lower decks; a trip shaft extending vertically between said upper and lower decks; a trip arm on said ,trip shaft at the upper deck; and a triparm on said trip shaft at the lower deck, V adapted to engage said ytrip arms to actuate said trip shaft for stopping the machine when any of the threads on either deck fails to maintaink a predetermined tension.; f y

2,7.A .braiding machine comprising a pair of superposed decks; a platform spaced above and-'rigidly secured to the upper deck of the machine, said platform having a pair of undulated and intertwining slots formed there vin and extending completely therethrough; v

agroup of bobbin carriers respectively pro-v vided with thread guiding elements, mounted on the stationary platform and movable in one direction along one of said slots therein; a group of independent thread guides mounted on the said stationary platform in.

alternate relation to the said bobbin carriers and movablein-the other of said slots in a 4direction opposite -to the direction of move ment `of* said. bobbin carriers; a platform rotatably mounted on the lower deck of the machine and' movable in the same general direction as the said group of independent thread guides; a plurality of bobbin carriers rigidlymounted on said rotary platform and. c adapted to supply thread to the said independent thread guides respectively, a ltrain of intermeshingfgears intermediate ythe upper deck and the stationary platform; a stud on each 1 of the;4 bobbin carriers and inde-y pendent thread guides located on the said stationary platform said studs extending through and below the stationary` platform ;V

and horns on said gears adapted to engage said studs and movev the said thread guides below the stationary platform to bobbin carriers along pathsdeiined by the said undulated slots inthe platform. l

v .3, A braiding machine comprising a pairof superposed decks.; 'a platform spaced above and Vrigidly secured to the upper deck of the machine.; said platform having a pair of unldulated and intertwining slots formed therein and extending completely therethrough; a group of bobbin carriers respectively pro'- vided with thread guiding elements, mounted on the stationary platform and movable in one Vdirection along one of said slots therein gf-a group of lindependent thread guides mounted on the said stationary platform in alternate relation to the said bobbin carriers and movable in the other of said slots in a direction ,opposite to the direction of move- 1; ment of said bobbin carriers; a platform rotatably mounted on the lower deck of the machine and movable in the ysame general direction as the said vgroup of independent thread guides; a `plurality of bobbincarrier-s rigidly mounted onsaid-rotary platform and adapted tofsupply thread to the said independent thread guides respectively', a train of intermeshing gears intermediate the 11p'-` per deck and the stationary platform; a stud on each of the lbobbin carriers and independentthread guides located on thesaid staand rigidly secured to the upper deck of the machine, said platform having a pair of undulated and intertwining slots formed therein and `extending completely therethrough; a group of bobbin ycarriers respectively providedr with thread guiding elements mounted on the stationary platform an movable in one direction along one of said slots-therein; a group yof independent thread guides mountedonthe said stationary platc y form in alternate relationto the saidbobbin carriers andv movable in the other of said slots in a direction opposite" to the direction of movement of saidbobbin carriers ;a platform rotatably mounted on the lower deck of the A machine' and movable in the same general direction as the said group of independent thread guidesfaiplurality of bobbin carriers rigidly mounted on ksaid rotary/platform and adapted to supply thread to the said independent thread guides respectively, a train`V of intermesliing gears intermediate the upper' deck and the stationary platform; a stud on each of the bobbin carriers Fand"independent thread guideslocated on the said stationary platform said studs extending lthrough'and below the stationary platform; and horns on said gears ada-ptedto engage said studs below the stationary Vplatform to move the said thread guides andbobbin carriers along pathvv defined by the said uudulated slots inthe platform, the studs of said independent-thread guides extending through notches @formed in the peripheries of said gears: and through anundulated slot formed in the saidnppei deck to a point below said upper deck, the

Asaid lstuds of the independent' thread 'guides and the said independent thread guidesbeing hollow to permit of the passage of the threads from the bobbin carriers located on the'lower deck. v

5. A braiding machine comprising a pair of superposed decks, means for supporting the upper deck including a centrally disposed hollow column extending from the lower deck VIl() to the upper deck, a stationary platform on the upper deck and having a pair of undulated and intertwining slots formed therein about the axis of the said central column, a group of bobbin carriers respectively provided with thread guides mounted on said platform and adapted to move in a general direction along the path defined by one of the said slots, a group of independent thread guides mounted on said platform in alternate relation to the bobbin carriers thereon and adapted to move in a general direction opposite to that of the bobbin carriers along a path defined by the other of said slots, a platform rotatably mounted on the lower deck and adapted to rotate about the axis of said central column, a group of bobbin carriers rigidly secured to said rotary platform and adapted to supply threads to the inde pendent thread guides located on the stationary platform of the upper deck, means for moving the bobbin carriers and the independent thread guides on the upper deck along their respective undulated paths about a core member extending through the said hollow-central column to form a braided covering about said core member, and means for rotating the said rotary platform so that the bobbin carriers carried thereby will move in synchronism with the saidvindependent thread guides on the upper deck.

6. A braiding machine comprising a pair of superposed decks; a platform spaced above and rigidly secured to the upper deck of the machine, said platform having a pair of undulated and intertwining slots formed therein and extending completely therethrough; a group of bobbin carriers respectively provided with thread guiding elements and mounted on the stationary platform for movement in one direction along one of the slots therein; a group of independent thread guides mounted on the stationary platform in alternate relation to said bobbin carrier and movable in the other of said slots in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said bobbin carriers; a hollow standard extending between and secured to the upper and lower decks respectively to receive and deliver a core member at the axis of movement of the thread guides and bobbin carriers on the stationary platform; a platform rotatably mounted on said standard above the lower deck of the machine and movable in the same general direction as the group of independent thread guides on the stationary platform; a train of intel-meshing gears intermediate the upper deck and the stationary platform for driving said bobbin carriers and said independent thread guides in the opposite directions on the stationary platform; a vertical shaft extending between and rotatably mounted on the upper and lower decks; a gear mounted on the shaft adjacent the upper deck for driving said gear train; and a gear on said shaft adjacent the lower deck and engaging teeth formed on the periphery of the rotary platform for driving the rotary platform in synchronism with the independent thread guides on the stationary platform.`

7. A braiding machine comprising a pair of superposed decks; a platform spaced above and rigidly secured to the upper deck of the machine, said platform having a pair of undulated and intertwining slots formed therein and extending completely therethrough; a group of bobbin carriers respectively provided with thread guiding elements, mounted on the stationary platform and movable in one direction along one of said slots therein; a group of independent thread guides mounted on the said stationary platform in alternate relation to the said bobbin carriers and movable in the other of said slots in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said bobbin carriers; a platform rotatably mounted on the lower deck ofthe machine and movable in the same genera-l direction as the said group of independent thread guides; a plurality of bobbin carriers rigidly mounted on said rotary platform and ladapted to supply thread to the said independent thread guides respectively, a train of intermeshing gears .intermediate the upper deck and the stationary platform; a stud on each of the bobbin carriers and independent thread guides located on the said stationary platform, said studs extending through and below the stationary platform; horns on said gears adapted to engage said studs below the stationary platform to move the said thread guides and bobbin carriers along paths defined by the said undulated slots in the platform; a vertical shaft extending between and rotatably mounted on the upper and lower decks, a gear on said shaft adjacent said upper deck driving said gear train; and a gear on said shaft adjacent the lower deck and engaging teeth on the periphery of the said rotary platform for driving said rotary platform in synchronism with the group of independent thread guides on the stationary platform.

8. A braiding machine comprising a pair of superposed decks; a platform spaced above and rigidly secured to the upper deck of the machine, said platform having a pair of undulated and intertwining slots formed therein; a group of bobbin carriers respectively provided with thread guiding elements, mounted on the stationary platform and movable in one direction along one of said slots therein; a group of independent thread guides mounted on the said stationary platform in alternate relation to the said bobbin carriers and movable in the other of said slots in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said bobbin carriers; a platform rotatably mounted on the lower lli - upp tripshaft 'at the upper deck; a rtrip armon deck ofthe machine and movable inthe same general direction as the said group of independent thread guides; a plurality of bob-v bin carriersl rigidly mounted on said rotary platform and ladapted to supply thread to the said independent thread guides respectively; a tension Weight slidably ymounted for vertical movementron each bobbincarrier on both lthe upper and lower' decks; a trip shaft extending vertically between said er an'dlower decks; a trip arm on said said trip shaft at the lower deck, said tension weights being adapted' to engage said trip arms to actuate said trip shaft for stopping the machine when any of the threads on either deck fails to maintain a predetermined tension; a vertical shaft extending between and rotatably mounted on the upper and lower decks, a gear on said shaft adjacent said upper deck driving said gear'train; a gear on said shaft adjacent the lower deck and driving said yrotary platform by intermeshing with teeth formed on the periph-` v ery thereof; a clutch onl said vertical drive and meanspperatively connecting- Y shaft;V said'clutch and thevsaid trip shaft whereby the clutch is released when the drive shaft is operated. f v

' SIDNEY B. BLAISDELL. 

